Master of Science in Education, University of Akron, 2010, Educational Foundations-Social/Philosophical Foundations of Education

This paper is about males and the pressure they face to establish and maintain hegemonic masculinity.

Committee: Sandra Spickard Prettyman Dr. (Advisor) Subjects:

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2024, Psychology

Asian American men may have body image concerns related to masculinity expectations, attraction ideals, negative body image, and drive for Western masculinity (Liao et al., 2020). Adherence to masculine norms may be rooted in expectations, cultural norms, and gender roles emphasized in Asian households (Ai et al., 2021; Chang & Subramaniam, 2008; Kramer et al., 2002; Lipson et al., 1996; Liu & Iwamoto, 2006). The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between conformity to Western masculinity norms, body dissatisfaction, and depression among Asian and Asian American men. Data were collected from 150 Asian and Asian-American men living in the United States (M age = 32.03 years, SD = 9.40; range = 18 to 64 years). Participants identified their ethnic background as Chinese (28.7%), followed by Korean (14.0%), Vietnamese (13.3%), Indian (12.7%), Filipino (12.0%), Multiethnic (8.7%), Japanese (4.0%), Other (4.0%), Bangladeshi (2.0%), and Lao (0.7%). Results indicated that conformity to the Winning and Violence masculinity norms were not significantly correlated with depression, whereas conformity to the Playboy and Self-Reliance masculinity norms were significantly positively correlated with depression. Despite winning masculine norm conformity not being related to depression, the results of this study indicated that male body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between Winning masculine norm conformity and depression. Potential explanations and implications of this study are discussed, and directions for future research are presented.

Committee: Stacey Raj (Advisor); Jennifer Phillips (Committee Member); Heather McCarren (Committee Member) Subjects: Asian Studies; Clinical Psychology; Gender; Mental Health; Minority and Ethnic Groups

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2015, Educational Leadership

Although there is a large body of research on the intersection of college fraternities and toxic masculinity, much of this research examines the impact of a particular performance of masculinity in terms of sexual aggression, misogyny, homophobia, and hypermasculinity. Few studies however have quantified levels of masculinity in fraternity men and sought to correlate these to experiences in fraternity culture. The purpose of this study was to quantify masculinity in fraternity-affiliated men as compared to their non-affiliated peers by examining their adherence to male role norms using the Male Role Norms Inventory– Revised (MRNI-R). MRNI-R Scores were regressed on a series of questions relating to fraternity experiences, for the affiliated group. This study found that fraternity-affiliated men possessed significantly higher rates of adherence to male role norms as compared to their non-affiliated peers, but very few of the factors related to fraternity experiences explained the difference. This likely indicates that men who join fraternities possess higher adherence to male role norms prior to joining fraternities and join in an effort to be validated by like-minded peers. Implications for practitioners are discussed in an effort to assist these men as well as suggestions for future research.

Committee: Kathy Goodman PhD (Advisor); Elisa Abes PhD (Committee Member); David Perez PhD (Committee Member); Mahauganee Shaw PhD (Committee Member); Katherine Kuvlanka PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Education; Education Philosophy; Educational Sociology; Gender; Gender Studies; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration; Social Research; Womens Studies

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2014, Popular Culture

This thesis analyzes the highly popular Old Spice commercials as a contemporary cultural guide on masculinity; it addresses a number of issues related to the construction of masculinities in contemporary American culture. Both Old Spice campaigns under analysis offer great insight into cultural ideals related to the construction of hegemonic masculinity. Through a detailed textual analysis of the commercials in these campaigns, I unravel those ideals and analyze how masculinity is constructed through the protagonists' appearances and bodies, sexuality, behaviors, as well as their character patterns and mannerisms. I argue that while both Old Spice campaigns suggest that hegemonic masculinity is the only acceptable form of masculinity, hegemonic masculinity is perpetuated in two very different ways. In the Smell Like A Man, Man campaign, satire is used as a means to disguise the blunt promotion of hegemonic masculinity. The Smell is Power campaign, on the other hand, uses a very blunt approach: its overt character clearly encourages the viewer to directly align with hegemonic notions of masculinity. Both campaigns are thus representative of a certain ambiguity that is so often to be found in postmodern texts. The analysis in my thesis therefore analyzes how both campaigns serve as prime examples of how paradoxical American beliefs about masculinity are in contemporary, postmodern America.

Committee: Becca Cragin (Advisor); Marilyn Motz (Committee Member); Rebecca Kinney (Committee Member) Subjects: American Studies; Communication; Film Studies; Gender; Gender Studies; Marketing; Mass Communications; Mass Media; Womens Studies

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2024, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

The present study investigates the phenomenon of climate denial through a new theoretical framework of privilege. The analysis utilizes a feminist orientation that builds on a historical interpretation through the lens of colonialism. Through the dissection of current multidisciplinary understandings of climate denial and new concepts discovered in the review of academic literature and popular media, a compilation of theory, relationship, and connection is made. Systems of power and privilege are examined and connected to the mechanisms and maintenance of climate denial. The resulting analysis illuminates that settler colonialism, supported by connected ideologies of White supremacy, ableism, and patriarchy inform the creation and perpetuation of climate denialism. Privileges grant invisibility, insulation from climate change and discomfort, and innocence in the maintenance of climate denial and subsequent power structures. Implications of communication and dismantling climate denial and systems of power are discussed. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu). Keywords: climate denial, climate change, privilege, settler colonialism

Committee: Waters Dana (Committee Chair); Martin Abigail (Committee Member); Kennedy Melissa (Committee Member) Subjects: Climate Change; Clinical Psychology; Environmental Justice; Environmental Studies; Psychology; Public Health; Public Policy; Social Psychology

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2024, Leadership and Change

This dissertation is a contextual autoethnography of my lived experience with stigmatization, stereotypes, and institutional obstructions as a divorced single mother who previously experienced intimate partner violence and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The purpose of the study is to shed light on the complexity of the single motherhood experience, both internally and externally. From 2009 to 2019, the institutions I accessed for assistance as a single mother and those I interacted with for my children, my job, my health, and even within the church were unnecessarily burdensome financially, physically, and emotionally. This dissertation takes a contextual look at print media, legal statutes, laws, other domestic violence cases, court cases, and institutional issues in my lifetime that may have affected either those I encountered or my perceptions. While looking at my autoethnography and the contextual experience of the time period, I will also be examining Jack Holland's (2006) A Brief History of Misogyny: The World's Oldest Prejudice to extend his findings into the realm of a single mother's lived experience. Holland's work will show how the dualism of misogyny has infiltrated every institution through patriarchy's ideal conception of family, which uses hegemonic masculinities as its strong-arm enforcer for societal control with stereotypes and stigmatizations as the quickest way to keep single mothers in line. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu/) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Committee: Lemuel Watson EdD (Committee Chair); Fayth Parks PhD (Committee Member); Gail Ukockis MA, MSW, PhD, LSW (Committee Member) Subjects: Gender; Gender Studies; Law; Mass Media; Philosophy; Religion; Welfare

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2023, Social Welfare

This multi-methods dissertation, consisting of a systematic review, quantitative study, and qualitative study, examines and explores the link between violence exposure and bullying perpetration among youth, focusing on the role of youth's identities and social contexts, such as gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Using Bronfenbrenner's (1994) social-ecological framework, the systematic review synthesizes the quantitative literature examining the link between violence exposure and traditional and cyberbullying perpetration among youth, with particular attention to the contexts of violence exposure and roles of youth's identities and social contexts. The review found that most studies reported significant associations between different forms of violence exposure in varying social-ecological systems and traditional/cyberbullying perpetration. Gaps in the literature were found, as none of the studies considered the contexts of violence exposure in their analyses, and only a small number of the studies examined the role of youth's identities in shaping the link between violence exposure. The findings from the studies that examined the role of identities reflected nuances and complexities, warranting further research. Informed by the social-ecological framework, developmental psychopathology, and hegemonic masculinity framework, the quantitative study used the Future of Families & Child Wellbeing Study data to examine the association between 2 cumulative violence exposure and bullying perpetration among youth, with attention to the roles of sex assigned at birth as a moderator. Greater levels of cumulative violence exposure significantly predicted greater odds of bullying perpetration among adolescents; however, sex assigned at birth did not significantly moderate this relationship. Finally, the qualitative study employs hermeneutic phenomenology to explore the perspectives and lived experiences of eight violence-exposed adolescent boy (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Laura Voith (Committee Chair); Christopher Burant (Committee Member); Dana Prince (Committee Member); Megan Holmes (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Work

BA, Kent State University, 2019, College of Communication and Information / School of Communication Studies

Acceptance of rape myths is a prevalent issue in U.S. society. Research suggests that rape myth acceptance is greater among men compared to women. So, this study sought to understand the relationship between conformity to hegemonic masculinity and acceptance of male rape myths among male university students. This study also analyzed the influence of media, interpersonal communication, and sexual violence support services in shaping perceptions about masculinity and male rape myths. In an online survey involving male students from one mid-sized Midwestern university, conformity to four dimensions of hegemonic masculinity were found to be related to acceptance of male rape myths: self-reliance, violence, power over women, and disdain for homosexuality. The findings of this study indicate that media is generally not influential in shaping male university students' perceptions of masculinity and acceptance of male rape myths, with the exception of streaming services. Interpersonal communication was not related to acceptance of male rape myths, but certain social groups were influential in shaping perceptions of masculinity. This study also found that only one support service included in the survey was influential in reducing acceptance of male rape myths.

Committee: James D. Ponder Dr. (Advisor); Suzy D'Enbeau Dr. (Committee Member); Jennifer L. McCullough Dr. (Committee Member); Chance York Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Gender

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2018, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

Hegemonic masculinity and the negative consequences that it has on men and women continues to gain increasing attention in research and in popular culture. Particular attention is paid to the sexual violence that is perpetrated by men towards women, however, the research on men's sexual development and its relationship to this sexual violence focuses largely on biological explanations. The feminist literature, however, on sexual violence offers a differing perspective, which includes the socialization processes that men undergo in their sexual development that lead them towards normalizing sexual violence. One of these processes is the existence and normalization of the commercial sex industry. This study interviewed 12 participants, eight via individual interviews and four in a focus group, to ascertain the relationship between men's sexual development and their engagement with the commercial sex industry. The findings within this study suggested a strong link between men's sexual development, pornography, prostitution, and fitting in with all-male peer groups. Commercial sex served as a vehicle for participants to express their masculine identities and bond with peers over sexual topics. Literature and exploration on hegemonic masculinity may benefit from further analysis on how men's sexual development, including their enactment or understanding of sexual violence, is interwoven into their experiences of commercial sex. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, http://aura.antioch.edu/ and Ohio Link ETD Center https://etd.ohiolink.edu/etd.

Committee: William Heusler Psy.D. (Committee Chair); Patricia Russell Psy.D. (Committee Member); Marta Guzman Psy.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Gender; Gender Studies; Mental Health; Psychology; Social Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2017, Sociology

Gender scholars have long theorized about the existence of multiple femininities and hegemonic masculinity within any given society. Prior work has examined how individuals construct these femininities and masculinities and how these constructions can evolve over time in response to a larger societal changes. Guided by existing scholarship that illustrates some of the possibilities and limitations of femininities and the enduring power of hegemonic masculinity, I examine women's experiences in three novel, male-dominated social realms: firearms shooting, amateur automobile racing, and video gaming. While each site is overwhelmingly male, they differ from each other quite dramatically in terms of social norms, structural traits, and organizational demands. As the ubiquitous phenomenon of hegemonic masculinity percolates through each of these unique social structures, what emerges in each are organizational norms that successfully maintain masculine dominance, but do so in very different ways. Women participants experience these unique environments and respond by adapting in their own unique ways, crafting femininities that run the gambit from struggling against masculine hegemony to complicitly reaffirming it. By situating ethnographic research of three unique sites within a single comparative study, and illustrating how structural and organizational differences can lead to wildly divergent gender constructions, this paper expands our existing understanding of how multiple femininities are crafted and the surprising range of adaptability hegemonic masculinity can display in its efforts to maintain social dominance. Moving beyond theoretical approaches, this paper uses rich empirical data to illustrate the importance of setting in determining the opportunities available to women in any given social group. It also calls into question the contemporary conventional wisdom that claims that an organization simply crafting diversity-friendly rules will be sufficient to cre (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Steven Lopez (Advisor) Subjects: Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2017, Communication Studies

In literature related to new social movements, little has been presented about movements focusing on issues and concerns pertaining to men as a group. The reason for this may have to do with the “dominant” position all men are believed to hold in most societies. Despite this view, movement organizations have been established to challenge social constructs of masculinity and expose how such constructs act as barriers to forming a dialogue that fully include men into discussions regarding gender politics. This analysis seeks to address these discussions among men's movement organizations by providing a way of conceptualizing network formation of men's movement organizations online. Using Connell's concept of hegemonic masculinity as a theoretical base, a qualitative content analysis of fifteen men's movement organization websites between April and June of 2012 is carried out to understand how network formation can take place among these organizations despite different perspectives to the degree in which men are benefactors of current social conditions. The analysis shows that two major factions exist in categorizing men's movement organizations: Pro-feminist men who primarily focus on how men can change to benefit women, and anti-feminist men who suggest that men are harmed as much as women due to socio-economic structures. Regardless of this chasm, thematic intersections do exist between organizations in both factions that rhetorically connect them to each other in such a way that suggest a unifying desire to challenge hegemonic masculine norms and promote a progressive form of masculinity. This potential conciliation of movement organizations is complicated by the way pro-feminist and anti-feminist groups challenge ideographs. The tactics utilized in online forums where ideographs are challenged reveal a different type of social movement strategy, negotiated mobilization, that suggests organization leaders and members act in such a way that indicates awareness of ho (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Joshua Atkinson Dr. (Advisor); David Jackson Dr. (Other); Michael Butterworth Dr. (Committee Member); Ellen Gorsevski Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication

PHD, Kent State University, 2016, College of Communication and Information

In this dissertation, I examine women in sport by exploring the case of Danica Patrick as a driver in the National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR). The broad perspective of socialization undergirds my study as sport is an important area in which individuals are socialized into their gender. From that broad perspective, I address three areas of contemporary understandings: (1) gender and sport in terms of hegemonic masculinity, (2) female athletes as bodies, and (3) sporting heroines as revered role models. To explore the three areas, I adopt a broad case studies approach to bind this unruly real-world phenomenon as well as to offer analysis that is not limited, but guided by and connected with previous examinations and relevant theoretical perspectives. From my analyses of collected data (participant observation and media reports), I offer three key findings and interpretations: (1) Patrick illustrates how hegemonic masculinity may shift and accommodate change, and also how it reasserts itself to justify male domination, (2) she addresses the limitations and tensions embodied by female athletes in terms of intelligible and unintelligible performances, and (3) she demonstrates how sporting heroines, as important role models, simultaneously challenge and uphold gender ideals that limit women. I conclude by asking if women's performances, as erotic heroines and by embodying aspects of physical feminism, may help to challenge what is intelligible and unintelligible.

Committee: Theresa Walton-Fisette Ph.D. (Committee Chair) Subjects: Communication; Sports Management

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2012, Journalism (Communication)

The researcher proposed that videogame magazines and journalists were misrepresenting the full breadth of modern videogame players, specifically women. Based on a foundation of Hegemonic Masculinity, the researcher conducted frame analyses of select magazines and in-depth interviews with select journalists. The researcher used Herman & Chomsky and Shoemaker & Reese as theoretical background and the standards proposed by the Hutchins commission and the Society of Professional Journalists to analyze the frames and interviews. The researcher found that women avatars were either ignored or portrayed as sex objects in the magazines, and that women videogame players were frequently mocked or insulted. Analyses further revealed that videogame journalists subscribe to an Ideology of Anxiety, primarily based on their fear-driven relationship with videogame developers and publishers.

Committee: Bernhard Debatin PhD (Committee Chair); Joseph Bernt PhD (Committee Member); Mia Consalvo PhD (Committee Member); Haley Duschinski PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Ethics; Gender; Gender Studies; Journalism; Mass Communications; Mass Media; Womens Studies

MA, Kent State University, 2012, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology

In the social sciences, little is known about gynecomastia – a condition where males can develop obtrusive breasts. Because males with gynecomastia can exhibit bodies significantly different from current hegemonic standards of masculinity, breasted-men may be subject to stigmatization and subordination. I examine how “normative” conceptualizations of the male body affect the experiences of males with gynecomastia, and how those experiences may change following male mastectomy. Using a grounded theory approach (Corbin and Strauss 1990), I conduct a qualitative content analysis of online dialogues by males with gynecomastia, their significant others, and parents of children with gynecomastia. I find that dominant ideals about masculinity and the male body inform breasted-men that their chests are “abnormal,” despite statistical data suggesting otherwise. Stemming from these hegemonic ideals, males with gynecomastia are often stigmatized, resulting in embarrassment, distress, and a perception of personal devaluation. In response, these stigmatized individuals employ various stigma management techniques to mitigate the ill-effects associated with their “condition.” Moreover, I find that many males with gynecomastia desire and benefit from social support and, among those breasted-men who undergo aesthetic surgery, breast reduction results in increased psychosocial well-being. I conclude by explicating the contributions this line of research offers to the scientific community, the limitations of the present study, and suggestions for future areas of inquiry regarding the breasted-male population.

Committee: Clare Stacey PhD (Committee Chair); Richard Adams PhD (Committee Member); David Purcell PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2012, Sociology

I use the Fragile Families data to examine multiple forms of masculinity at a key life-course event: the transition into fatherhood. My theoretical framework integrates mainstream sociological and critical gender perspectives developing a new typology with three forms of masculinity: generative, traditional, and marginalized. Generative masculinity is the modal response among fathers. Marginalized masculinity is the most heterogenous concerning men's characteristics. Traditional masculinity resembles generative in terms of demographic and attitude measures, but traditional fathers are wealthier. I employ multinomial logistic regression techniques comparing men across types of masculinity finding significant differences in relationship status, education, personal income, demographic and attitude controls. Higher education and more stable relationship status increase the likelihood of being generative supporting the critical gender perspective. However, the finding that higher personal income increases the likelihood of being traditional supports the mainstream sociological perspective. The critical gender perspective improves the mainstream sociological perspective by acknowledging alternative forms of masculinity resulting from socioeconomic, demographic, and attitude differences in men.

Committee: Laura Sanchez (Committee Chair); I-Fen Lin (Committee Member); Wendy Manning (Committee Member) Subjects: Families and Family Life; Gender; Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2007, American Culture Studies/Popular Culture

Between 1984 and 1991, heavy metal became one of the most publicly popular and commercially successful rock music subgenres. The focus of this dissertation is to explore the following research questions: How did the subculture of heavy metal music between 1984 and 1991 evolve and what meanings can be derived from this ongoing process? How did the contextual circumstances surrounding heavy metal music during this period impact the performative choices exhibited by artists, and from a position of retrospection, what lasting significance does this particular era of heavy metal merit today? A textual analysis of metal related materials fostered the development of themes relating to the selective choices made and performances enacted by metal artists. These themes were then considered in terms of gender, sexuality, race, and age constructions as well as the ongoing negotiations of the metal artist within multiple performative realms. Occurring at the juncture of art and commerce, heavy metal music is a purposeful construction. Metal musicians made performative choices for serving particular aims, be it fame, wealth, or art. These same individuals worked within a greater system of influence. Metal bands were the contracted employees of record labels whose own corporate aims needed to be recognized. To attain publicity and promotion, bands need to acquiesce to the wishes of assorted media entities like radio or television. Functioning within a subcultural genre, the band must also account for maintaining the normative practices deemed mandatory for subcultural membership while being mindful of the preferences for those consuming their performance, their audience. In other words, the musicians must adapt their performance to balance the demands of critics, peers, and a purchasing public in such a way as to appear innovative and authentic while retaining ties to a normative subcultural standard. It is at the nexus of these factors that metal performativity is being explored. (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jeffrey Brown (Advisor) Subjects:

Bachelor of Arts, Ohio University, 2013, Women's and Gender Studies

The media increasingly dominates the cultural consciousness, and cultural consumers must therefore critically attend to the ways in which gender is represented. The mass media is currently resisting gender role ambiguity, which emerged as women and homosexual men have entered the public sphere. Hegemonic masculinity demands an opposition to femininity, a notion that has led to widespread homophobia and the use of male-on-male rape as a gender-policing tool. Family Guy, an animated sitcom, has reinforced such traditional conceptions of masculinity through the humorous use of male-on-male rape as a facet of homophobia. This use of male-on-male rape perpetuates rape myths, constructs the issue as insignificant and continues to deny and demean the experiences of male-on-male rape survivors. The intent of this thesis is to explore the humorous use of male-on-male rape in Family Guy as it serves to reinforce hegemonic masculinity through the utilization of homophobia to its predominantly young male audience.

Committee: Kimberly Little (Advisor) Subjects: Womens Studies